The most memorable learning experiences for many students during their academic careers are the ones involving practical, real-world experiences with actual businesses and clients. These unique opportunities give students insight into the operations of companies seeking to grow revenue, deepen their sales pipeline, operate more efficiently, introduce new products or services, discover innovative marketing solutions, or employ creative technologies to further differentiate from competitors—just to name a few.
And for many students, their academic experience doesn’t end at commencement. Kogod alumni remain highly engaged with students, faculty, and staff well after commencement to offer their support in making the Kogod experience as pivotal, or even more so, than the one they had when they were on campus.
So when two Kogod alumni offered to partner with the Kogod in Practice experiential learning program during the fall 2021 semester, students jumped at the opportunity to provide pro bono consulting services for Factum Global, a fast-growing, DC-based international consulting firm and disrupter in the management consulting industry.
Factum Global helps businesses and associations expand globally by bringing transparency, personalized senior-level service, and a roadmap for growth to their clients. The firm is a disrupter, laser-focused on internationalization, and different from traditional consulting firms.
But what grabbed even more prospective consultants’ attention was the unique opportunity to work with two Kogod alumni, founder and CEO of Factum Global Francisco Gomez, Kogod ’07, and COO Jeff Smith, SPA ’04/Kogod ’07.
“The interest in Factum Global during the application process was quite incredible, actually,” said Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning Angela Petras. “Students were drawn by the opportunity to work with two passionate alumni entrepreneurs who are successfully growing an international firm in the consulting industry—one which often proves quite complicated to break into.”
Gomez, a native of Colombia, had previously served as the director of global strategy and market development for the American Chemical Society and consulted in the human capital and healthcare industries.
Smith, the CEO’s right hand and chief operator, was running his own communications firm when Gomez first contacted him about Factum Global. Smith thought he was signing a new client—little did he know, Smith was being asked to become a business partner.
Since then, Gomez and Smith have shown a continued dedication to AU and the Kogod community by hiring talented AU students and alumni; frequently interacting with students; and participating in panel discussions, mentoring programs, and other networking events.
“Giving back to and remaining engaged with the Kogod community is important to us because when we do, we experience individuals who are talented, dedicated, and curious about business,” said Gomez. “Why wouldn’t we expand our talent pipeline and network to a business school where we were so fortunate to cultivate our own skills?”